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Home Issue: 127

Issue: 127

February 24, 2005

Cover Story

What is Bob Johnson up to? – A BlackCommentator.com Exclusive

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

In a transparent bid to boost Republican fortunes among Blacks, billionaire Bob Johnson attempted earlier this year to convene a secret meeting of prominent African Americans at BET headquarters in Washington, DC. obtained a copy of the invitation to the “retreat,” scheduled for January 13 and 14 and ostensibly designed “for the purpose of brainstorming…

In a transparent bid to boost Republican fortunes among Blacks, billionaire Bob Johnson attempted earlier this year to convene a secret meeting of prominent African Americans…

Continue reading 9 min

Commentary

Freedom Rider: Right Wing Dreams Come True

By Margaret Kimberley Guest Commentator

“He denounced labor unions, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Medicare, Social Security, you name it. He denounced the civil rights movement as socialism. To him, socialism and communism were the same thing. And when challenged to explain his prejudice, he could not defend his argument, either ideologically, polemically or academically.” – Dr. Yoshi Tsurumi, commenting…

“He denounced labor unions, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Medicare, Social Security, you name it. He denounced the civil rights movement as socialism. To him, socialism…

Continue reading 5 min

Commentary

The Full Blown Oprah Effect

By Paul Street Guest Commentator

“The culture of New Age Racism also brought blacks to the age of Oprah” – Elaine Brown, 2002 “A Real Black-Tie Event:” Love, Tears, and Racial Progress I recently caught a snippet of television that was relevant for understanding the savage persistence of stark racial inequality in the United States. I was flipping the dial…

“The culture of New Age Racism also brought blacks to the age of Oprah” – Elaine Brown, 2002 “A Real Black-Tie Event:” Love, Tears, and Racial…

Continue reading 15 min

Commentary

Think Piece: Can Labor Go Beyond Diversity Lite?

By Dwight Kirk

“I was pulled this way and that for longer than I can remember. And the problem was that I always tried to go in everyone’s way but my own…So after years of trying to adopt the opinions of others I rebelled. I am an ‘invisible’ man.” – Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man The American labor movement…

“I was pulled this way and that for longer than I can remember. And the problem was that I always tried to go in everyone’s way…

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Commentary

Rebuilding the Union Movement to Empower Communities of Color

By Gerald Hudson

Mr. Hudson is Executive Vice President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) I was glad to see The Black Commentator covering the historic debate going on in the nation’s unions about how to rebuild workers’ strength in America (February 3, 2005 “Black Unionists Warn ‘Don’t Restructure Us Out’”). Your editorial was correct in advocating that meaningful…

Mr. Hudson is Executive Vice President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) I was glad to see The Black Commentator covering the historic debate going on in…

Continue reading 7 min

Guest Commentary

Malcolm’s Contribution to Black Voting Rights

By Ryan Paul Haygood Guest Commentator

When he took his place behind the podium at Brown Chapel AME Church and began his address to young civil rights activists in Selma, Alabama, Malcolm X had less than three weeks to live. Invited to speak by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Malcolm traveled to Selma to address 500 people on February 4,…

When he took his place behind the podium at Brown Chapel AME Church and began his address to young civil rights activists in Selma, Alabama, Malcolm…

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Commentary

Lets take Black History Month to the Next Level

By Norman (Otis) Richmond Guest Commentator

This article first appeared in Share newspaper, serving the Black and Caribbean population of greater Toronto, Canada. Black History Month must be updated for the 21st century. February should be the month that we re-double our struggle against imperialism and White supremacy, and for reparations for slavery, the slave trade and colonialism. This was the…

This article first appeared in Share newspaper, serving the Black and Caribbean population of greater Toronto, Canada. Black History Month must be updated for the 21st…

Continue reading 5 min

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